High Water Level Resource Page

Supervisor David Seeley has declared a State of Emergency in the Town of Irondequoit, amidst rising water levels on Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay.

The Declaration was accompanied by an immediate Emergency Order to regulate vessel speed on Irondequoit Bay.

All vessels on Irondequoit Bay shall travel at an idle speed when within 500 feet of the Shore, and create no wake

All vessels on Irondequoit Bay beyond 500 feet from the shoreline shall travel at a speed to not exceed 5 mph.

This Emergency Order was developed in conjunction with the Town of Penfield, the Town of Webster and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Both Penfield and Webster have executed similar emergency orders stating that vessels shall travel at idle speeds within 500 feet of their respective shorelines.

The emergency order remains in effect until it is determined that the water levels do not pose a danger to public safety, health and public or private property.

The Town of Irondequoit continues to monitor daily the rising water levels along Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay. We have compiled a list of resources that we hope are beneficial to those affected.

Lake Ontario and Connected Waterways Assessment Relief Act

The Irondequoit Town Board has voted to opt-in to New York State's Lake Ontario and Connected Waterways Assessment Relief Act. This act allows homeowners who were adversely impacted by the severe flooding experienced this year to apply for a one-year reassessment on the improved value of your property based on the damage incurred. The act waives the typical State deadline of March 1st to apply for a property assessment.

The new deadline for waterfront property owners to apply for assessment relief under this act is, November 7th, 2017. Anyone interested in applying for assessment relief should submit an application to the Town Assessor's Office (1280 Titus Avenue, first floor).

The New York State Lake Ontario Flood Recovery Fund has been increased to $15 million. All primary homeowners impacted by flooding on Lake Ontario (as well as Irondequoit Bay) may be eligible for funding of up to $50,000, regardless of income or assets. Non-primary homeowners will be subject to income and asset restrictions.

This program is being administered in Monroe County by Sheen Housing, a local non-profit housing agency. To begin the process of applying for funding, simply fill out an application and mail it to Sheen Housing, PO Box 460 Bloomfield, NY 14469.

Assistance for Homeowners & Businesses:

Governor Cuomo has pledged $7 Million to private homeowners impacted by this year’s flooding. Impacted Irondequoit homeowners living along the Lake and Bay are eligible for grants upwards of $40,000 to repair interior and exterior damages, as well as permanent fixtures.

The Town has been receiving inquiries from residents about this program. We have been in communication with both the Governor’s office and the NYS Office of Community Renewal, which is administering the grant.

Sheen Housing, a not-for-profit local housing foundation, will likely serve as a point of contact for Monroe County homeowners wishing to apply for assistance. They can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 585-657-4114.

For more information on the program, as well as eligibility criteria, residents can click here.

Please note there are income limits on assistance, which can be waived for senior homeowners.

The Governor also recently announced a $5 million grant program for businesses that have experienced damage or financial loss from flooding conditions. We have several businesses in Irondequoit that could benefit from this program. This grant will be administered by NYS Empire State Development. The Town will relay information when it becomes available.

NY Sea Grant/Cornell University High Water Level Impact Survey:

New York Sea Grant has awarded funding to Cornell University to develop and conduct a survey to collect data on the impacts of high water levels on waterfront properties. The information collected will be used to identify areas that are most vulnerable to high water levels in the future and to inform future community flood risk planning.

Residents and business owners are encouraged to participate by providing information about the impacts of high water levels on their waterfront properties.

Securing a Contractor:

New York State's Division of Consumer Protection has offered the following guidance regarding hiring a contractor for any work that is required as a result of the flooding on Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay:

Sandbags:

Residents affected by the high water levels have asked how they should dispose of the large quantity of sandbags currently deployed:

Sandbags which have contacted floodwater and are contaminated with raw sewage, industrial chemicals, petroleum products, etc. must be disposed of at a municipal solid waste landfill. The Department would consider the use of sand from the sandbags as an alternative daily cover if requested by the landfill.

Sandbags which have not come into contact with contaminated floodwater can be stored for reuse or can be debagged; the uncontaminated sand can be used as fill or aggregate in upland areas, and the bags can stored for reuse or disposed at a municipal solid waste landfill. Placement of uncontaminated sand on shorelines areas is acceptable, but placement in or alongside streams, tributaries, wetlands, or environmentally sensitive areas is restricted.

Mosquitos - Standing Water:

Given the abnormal amount of rainfall this spring, many residents, along the shorelines and throughout Town, are dealing with stagnant pools of water settled on their property. In an effort to help mitigate potential harm from excessive mosquitoes in the area, residents are advised to purchase “mosquito dunks,” or larvicide, pellets that contain a naturally occurring bacteria that help to control mosquitoes before they become flying adults. For more information on this practice of controlling mosquito problems as a result of pooling water, please refer to the following link, https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/13035.pdf, from New York State’s Health Department or contact the Monroe County Health Department.

Thanks to a generous donation from New York State Assembly Majority Leader Joe Morelle and Monroe County Clerk Adam Bello, the Town has free mosquito dunks available for residents impacted by the flooding along Lake Ontario and Irondequoit Bay. The supply is limited so they will be distributed in the order residents arrive until the supply is gone. If you are a homeowner along the waterfront and would like a package of mosquito dunks for standing water on your property, you may come to Town Hall to receive a package. For questions contact Patrick Pinkerton in the Supervisor's Office at (585) 336-6029.

Storm Recovery Permits:

Many residents have inquired about permitting for storm recovery permits. The US Army Corps of Engineers and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation will jointly be conducting an expedited review of waterfront permits, including erosion control structures and other property along the Lake Ontario shoreline.

More information can be found at http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/89343.html. The Town will continue to provide information for homeowners, as it becomes available. Residents may call the Supervisor's with question at 336-6029.